I’m working on preparing a talk on the role of languages in business after Brexit. For that, I’m conducting a little research and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
The questions are aimed at Brits, but if you’ve had any interesting experiences relating to this topic as a non-Brit, I’d still be interested in hearing from you.
After the Brexit vote, have you ever felt that Europeans looked at you slightly differently?
Have you ever felt that you’d had to explain yourself, or that trust was a little shaken perhaps?
Have you felt that your European colleagues (or friends) were a little hurt or even offended by the Brexit vote?
I’m mainly curious if you’ve had any interesting experiences in business, but I’m equally interested in hearing your thoughts when it comes to encounters and discussions with European friends, family or just general impressions.
Important: share your thoughts and ideas directly in the comments. Links to other posts, videos, etc. will be deleted as they come across as spammy.
Looking forward to hearing your voice on this one.
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Gabriella Ferenczi 
Liebe Gabi
After the Brexit vote, have you ever felt that Europeans looked at you slightly differently?
Initially after the vote I think there was a stunned reaction of disbelief and some EU residents took it as a personal vote against them. In conversations I have told people it was not a personal vote against them but against Institutions.
Have you ever felt that you’d had to explain yourself, or that trust was a little shaken perhaps?
I have had discussions about Brexit and I have tried to argue that it was not just an anti foreigner reaction but was more to do with over bearing institutions and globalisation and that the country never fully recovered from the financial crisis. I known EU residents came to UK in good faith and were perhaps surprised by the result and I am sorry about the distress it caused. Interesting when I have visited EU countries such as Austria amongst the ordinary folk there seemed to be a fair bit of anti EU feeling.
Have you felt that your European colleagues (or friends) were a little hurt or even offended by the Brexit vote?
I believe initially there was a feeling of hurt and this was not helped by the campaign and even the events in last 2 years where a lot of ill advised language has been used by both sides.
I think particularly for EU residents in London they were unaware that the EU was not very popular in the rest of the country and those that rarely ventured outside the M25 the vote would have been a particular shock.
Gabi I hope that you are well and feel secure in the UK and will stay amongst us.
Alles Gute!
Neil
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Thank you very much for taking the time to write such valuable feedback for me Neil. It is very much appreciated. I’m going to publish an article about the findings of this little research, I’m really curious.
I personally did not take Brexit as a decision against Europeans, and I’ve never felt for a moment that our position here would be unsecure. I totally trusted in the Brits that there will be a way for us Europeans doing business here to secure our position, without having to become a citizen – and just recently, that’s exactly what happened. I also understand and fully accept and respect the decision of the British people and hope the country will be able to get the best out of this decision in the long term.
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